Venus Flytrap

Common Names

Venus Flytrap, Venus Fly Trap, Venus Flytraps

Summary

Dionaea muscipula, commonly known as the Venus flytrap, is a carnivorous perennial native to boggy wetlands along the Carolina coast, it forms a low-growing rosette of leaves ending in hinged two-lobed traps with interlocking teeth that snap shut when trigger hairs on the inner surfaces are disturbed, enabling digestion of captured insects, trap interiors may be bright red or pink, and plants typically reach about 6 to 12 inches tall and 6 to 9 inches wide, with white flowers on tall stalks appearing in late spring to early summer, for cultivation, a nutrient-poor acidic medium such as peat moss with perlite or sand kept consistently moist but not waterlogged is used, with water sourced from distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis, a tray can help maintain moisture, provide ample light, 4 to 6 hours of direct sun daily or bright indoor lighting, and avoid fertilization, feeding is optional and should use live prey if given, a winter dormancy of several months at cool temperatures is common, and propagation is possible by division or leaf cuttings, wild populations are endangered and illegal to collect from, so commercial propagation from reputable sources is recommended, while pests such as aphids and spider mites should be monitored

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-12 inches

Spread

6-9 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun or Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Nutrient-poor, acidic, well-draining soil; typically a peat moss–based mix such as 50:50 sphagnum peat moss and perlite or coarse sand, with no fertilizer or regular potting soil.

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

4.0-5.0

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green, red, gold/yellow-green to red/burgundy, pinkish to reddish interior, includes all-green and all-red forms

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow-green to red/burgundy (red coloration depends on sun exposure); pinkish-red on the inside of leaf blades.

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow-growing, growth slows during dormancy, growth can be quicker in spring/summer under favorable conditions and can be markedly faster when heavily fed

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Leaf cuttings, Tissue culture / micropropagation

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts pollinators